The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

The mystery rogue player may not even still be at the club in question or in the AFL given AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan has suggested he was confident of a clean 2013 season. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

"It is the AFL's understanding that it has ACC authority to notify relevant clubs that they are mentioned in the ACC report and have been identified as having vulnerabilities," a league spokesman said.

"However, at this stage the AFL is not authorised to provide more specific details of issues at those clubs - and this would include whether a club had a player suspected of using a prohibited substance."

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou later urged the player and club to be transparent with their position.

"All people should heed the advice they are far better collaborating and coming forward than waiting for the knock on the door," he said.

The AFL knows the club but not the identity of the player being investigated for possible use of performance-enhancing drugs.

ACC chief executive John Lawler said yesterday: "Following a request from the Australian Football League and National Rugby League, I have granted permission for both codes to confidentially notify the specific clubs within their respective codes that were identified in Project Aperio.

"Once notified, a club may choose to make it publicly known.

"The Australian Crime Commission can not name clubs and individuals, as they are protected under Section 60 of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 which protects the rights of persons against reputational damage and the right to a fair trial."

AFL clubs were hesitant to reveal whether they would publicly "out" themselves if told by the league or Australian Crime Commission.

But Hawthorn, Adelaide, Sydney and West Coast confirmed that they hadn't been contacted by either the AFL or ACC.

"We haven't been contacted by the AFL at this point in time," Hawks chief executive Stuart Fox said.

But most clubs declined the invitation to comment or were guarded with their replies.

Several remained silent to the query of whether a club has been told in a show of solidarity among the majority of the 18 clubs.

Former ASADA Chairman Richard Ings says it will be difficult for the organisation to prove clubs and individuals are guilty of doping.

The mystery rogue player may not even still be at the club in question or in the AFL given AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan has suggested he was confident of a clean 2013 season.

"The AFL is not aware of any issues, potential use of performance enhancing drugs by any players, on AFL lists coming into the 2013 season," McLachlan said.

"There are some potential historical issues that we are investigating, there are vulnerabilities, but at the moment that investigation will take some time and until we get to the bottom of that the season will go ahead until we have futher information."

In other developments:

JUSTICE Minister Jason Clare said phone taps had been used to help gather information on those believed to be involved in suspect practices.

MCLACHLAN said a resolution to the saga is likely to be months rather than weeks away.

THE AFL revealed approximately 1100 performance enhancing drug tests were conducted on AFL players last season. A similar number is planned for 2013.

THE league said despite the Crime Commission implicating two clubs in doping, it was aware of a wider danger of illicit drug use by players across the competition.

MCLACHLAN stated no AFL game was being investigated for match fixing.The Crime Commission has said one match-fixing inquiry is under way in Australia.

The AFL's statement yesterday leaves an NRL match as the most likely subject of that probe.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

While the AFL's net of suspicion was narrowed to two clubs, the NRL has been told it has six clubs with alleged links to the use of performance enhancing drugs and links with crime syndicates.

Clare said evidence against clubs and individuals specified in the ACC's confidential report had been passed to NSW and Victorian police.

"We're not just talking about evidence that's been collected through coercive hearings, we're talking about documentary evidence that the Crime Commission has got as well as the use of phone taps that corroborate all of the information they've got," Clare told ABC TV.

McLachlan said fans awaiting the investigation's outcome needed to be be patient.

"The reality is it's not going to be as quick as everybody would like," McLachlan said.

"It's not going to be as quick as the club, the players, the AFL, the media, the supporters would like.

"The reality is that the investigators - which ultimately is ASADA in conjunction with the AFL - has to get the right answers and that will take as long as it takes.

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